The number of people killed in car accidents increased in 2012, however there was a large increase in accident victims in Northern Kentucky. Traffic fatalities increased by an astonishing 43% in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, according to state police records. There were a total of 43 deaths, which made 2012 the deadliest year in Northern Kentucky since 2005. There were also 44 deaths recorded. Sheriff officials stated that “there are no distinctive patterns” to the accidents, but that there were many causes and that they were unknown.

Kentucky accident statistics
In Boone County alone, car accident fatalities nearly doubled from 10 in 2011 to 19 in 2012. According to preliminary stats from the Kentucky State Police Collision Analysis website, traffic deaths across the state increased by 17 in 2011. In 2012, 737 people died on state roads. The death toll in 2012 was down from a three-year stretch ending in 2010, state police said. In 2008, there were 826 highway fatalities across the Bluegrass state, 791 in 2009 and 760 in 2010. Traffic fatalities also increased in Campbell County in 2012. The county saw five more people die in 2012 than in 2011. One of those accidents was a car accident in which two people were killed. Bucking the Northern Kentucky trend, traffic fatalities went down in Kenton County, but only by one accident.

What to do if you are hurt in an accident
With the large number of car accidents that happen in Kentucky every year, you need to make sure you are compensated if you are injured. Since many at-fault drivers are uninsured, accident victims will only be compensated if they have adequate Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM). This pays you for your pain and suffering and your out-of-pocket expenses if you are in an automobile accident and are injured by a driver of a car that does not have insurance. This helps to financially protect you and your family from the negligent acts of others. This is a smart investment and should not be waived under any circumstances. Don’t let someone else’s financial hardship and irresponsibility turn your life into a nightmare.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) can be purchased as a package with Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM). You do not have to purchase both of these coverages. However, I would recommend having both coverages. If you have Uninsured Motorist Coverage, this means that an uninsured car won’t totally destroy your family’s financial well-being.

Michael A. Schafer and The Schafer Law Office represents clients and accident victims throughout Kentucky including Louisville, Lexington, LaGrange, Shepherdsville, Taylorsville, Shelbyville, Brandenburg, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Carrolton, Bardstown, Munfordville, New Castle, Richmond, Bowling Green, St. Matthews, Prospect, Shively, Fairdale, Middletown, Douglas Hills, Valley Station and Pleasure Ridge Park. Cases are also handled in Jefferson County, Bullitt County, Oldham County, Shelby County, Hardin County, Spencer County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Carrol County, Henry County, Madison County, Nelson County, Anderson County, Trimble County, Larue County, Hart County and Meade County, Kentucky.